Underwater toy device

ABSTRACT

An underwater toy device utilizing a base portion having an extending wings and tail. An elevator is also included in the invention and is capable of fitting in anyone of a number of slots located in the base portion in the tail. In this manner, the underwater toy device follows various paths within a body of water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel and useful underwater toydevice.

Persons engaged in water activities such as swimming and wadding oftenplay water games or amuse themselves with sporting equipment and toys.For example, watercraft, balls, floats, and the like are used by suchpersons. Additionally, persons in a water environment often delight inretrieving objects which are capable of going beneath the surface of thewater and returning to the surface again.

An underwater toy device which possesses the capability of followingparticular path beneath the water through an adjustment mechanism wouldbe a notable advance in the field of toys and sporting goods.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention a novel and useful underwatertoy device is herein provided.

The device of the present invention is utilized having a generalairplane design which includes a base portion, a wing extending from thebase portion, and a tail separating from the wing and also extendingfrom the base portion. Such wing may be fashioned with an aileron tab orout railing edge twist to stabilize the underwater movement of the toyof the present invention. The invention includes a rudder and anelevator composed of a flattened piece. At least a first slot and asecond slot are located in the base portion at the vicinity of the tail.The first and second slots extend along distinct first and second axes,respectively. In other words, the first slot is not parallel to thesecond slot, but each slot is sized to hold the elevator in place. Thedevice also includes a propeller and means for rotating the propeller inits underwater travel. The device of the present invention may be formedof any suitable material that has buoyancy which permits the device ofthe present invention to float. That is to say, the density of thematerial used in the present invention is somewhat less than the densityof water. For example, high density polyethylene maybe employed to formthe device of the present invention.

The means for turning the propeller of the present invention may includean elastomeric strip or band which is stretched between the base portionand the propeller. The elastomeric strip may be tensioned by twistingthe same such that, upon release, the elastomeric strip turns thepropeller. Such elastomeric strip may be fastened to the externalstructure of the base portion or lie within a recess of the baseportion.

Another embodiment of the present invention utilizes a base portion,wing, and tail but includes an elevator that possesses a slot. The slotis employed to at least partially encompass the tail and is held at aparticular orientation relative to the tail by a support located on thetail. The support interacts with the elevator to fix such elevator in aparticular orientation, as heretofore described. The support may includea plurality of posts located on the exterior of the tail which interactswith recesses or apertures in the elevator such that a mating occurs. Inaddition, a support may take the form of a series of channels that aremounted on the exterior of the tail which interacts with flanges on theelevator. The flanges and recesses of the elevator heretofore describedmay lie along the slot of the elevator. Further, a shaft may be employedwith the elevator to allow rotation between the plurality of posts, orplurality of channels used in support of the elevator.

Moreover, any of the embodiment of the present invention may also beemployed a tab which is removably fixed to the wing of the presentinvention to serve as aileron.

By adjusting the location of the elevator, and the wing tab or rudder,the device of the present invention may be directed through the waterand follow enumerable paths.

It may be apparent that a novel and useful underwater toy device hasbeen described.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anunderwater toy device which is useable by a person in or near the bodyof water and which follows a path pre-determined by the user of thedevice.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an underwater toydevice which may be adjusted in its motion in the body of water by theuse of an elevator having multiple orientations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an underwatertoy device that is self propelled and is capable of floating to thesurface after traveling through the body of water.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an underwatertoy device which may be propelled through the body of water and assume adesign similar to that of a particular airplane.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an underwatertoy device which is easy to use and provides amusement to its user.

The invention possesses other objects and advantages as specially asconcerns particular characterizes and features hereof which will becomeapparent as the specification continues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial view of the tail section of an embodiment of thepresent invention showing a rudder structure.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the feature depicted in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the presentinvention illustrating the use of a wing tab

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the tail section of anotherembodiment of the present invention showing orientation of an elevatorin phantom.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an elevator usable with the supportstructure depicted in FIG. 6

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the tail section of anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top view of an elevator usable with a support structureillustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a rudder utilizable withembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a body of water showing variouspaths of travel of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a body of water showing various of pathsof the device of the present invention.

For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments of theinvention which should be taken in conjunction with the above describeddrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of the present invention will evolve from the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which shouldbe referenced to the prior described drawings.

An embodiment of the invention as a whole is depicted in the drawings byreference character 10 followed by an upper case letter to denote thesame. With reference to FIG. 1, it may be seen that the underwater toydevice 10A is shown. Device 10 generally resembles a toy airplane. Inthis regard, underwater device 10 possesses a base 12 which mimics afuselage of an airplane. Wing 14 extends from base portion 12 as well asa tail 16. Device 10A further includes a propeller 18 and means 20 forrotating propeller 18. Wing 14 may possess a drooping trailing edge 19to counteract any “p” forces generated by propeller 18. Means 20 isdepicted in FIG. 1 as including a pin 22 fixed to base portion 12 and ahook 24 which lies adjacent cap 26. Cap 26 is also fastened or fixed tobase portion 12. Means 20, is shown as a tensioned elastomeric strip orband 28 which extends between pin 22 and hook 24. Hook 24 interconnectswith propeller 18 such that the rotation of propeller 18 twist ortensions strip 28. Release of the propeller 18 will cause it to turn inthe direction opposite to the initial twisting of strip 28.

Most importantly, device 10A is formed with slots 30, 32, and 34. Slot30 extends through body portion 12 while slot 34 is formed in tail 16Slot 32 lies at the juncture of tail 16 and body portion 12. Elevator 36is a flattened piece which is capable of frictionally moving into any ofthe slots 30, 32, or 34 and being held therewithin by in frictionalengagement. Directional arrows 38 indicate that the movement of elevator36 into any of the slots 30, 32, and 34, FIGS. 1 and 2. The selection ofanyone of the slots, 30, 32, or 34 will cause device 10A to move in anyparticular direction within a body of water, which will be furtherdiscussed hereinafter. Needless to say, slot 30 will tend to move device10 downwardly while slot 34 will tend to move device 10 upwardly. Slot32 occupied by elevator 36 will generally allow device 10 to moveforward in a level manner. Elevator 36 is shown in slot 32 on FIG. 2.

Turning now to FIG. 3, it may be observed that another embodiment of 10Bof the device of the present invention is shown. Although FIG. 3 onlydepicts the rear portion of embodiment 10B, it should be understood thatthe forward components shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are the same as that forembodiment 10B. However, embodiment 10B includes a body portion 10having a recess 42 for strip 28, therein. Slots 44, 46, and 48 in tail50 allow the frictional engagement of elevator 36 depicted in FIGS. 1and 2. Rudder 52 is also illustrated in FIG. 3 at the rear portion oftail 50, rudder 52 is rotatably fixed to tail 50 via axle 54 which liesalong axis 56. It should also be realized that slots 44,46, and 48extend along axes 58, 60, and 62 respectively. Axes 58, 60, and 62 arenon-parallel relative to one another. The same non-parallel relationshipexist with respect to slots 30, 32, and 34 of embodiment 10A of FIGS. 1and 2. Needless to say, rudder 52 allows device 10B to move to the leftor right depending on the orientation of the rudder. FIG. 4 indicatesthat rudder 52 has swung outwardly and, thus, will direct device 10B tothe right when moved through a body of water.

Referring now to FIG. 5, it may be seen that another embodiment of 10Cof the present invention is shown. Embodiment 10C includes a propeller64, a body portion 66. Means 68 is also depicted as rotating propeller64 and includes the same structure as shown in FIG. 3 with respect toembodiment to 10B. Slots 70, 72, and 74 are employed to hold elevator36, FIGS. 1 and 2. Tail 76 has been moved forward on the elevator regionof device 10C defined by slots 70, 72, and 74. Wing 78 includes theprovision of a tab 80 which may be moved upwardly and downwardly shownby directional arrows 82. The upward and downward position of tab 80 isalso depicted in phantom, in part, in FIG. 5. Thus, tab 80 serves as anaileron to bank device 10C to provide the right or left, as the case maybe. For example, in the upward position tab 80 will bank device 10C tothe left, while in the downward position device 10C banks to the right.It should also be noted that embodiment 10C includes other features ofan aesthtic design nature which is easily adapted to any of the deviceof the present invention.

FIGS. 6-10 depict further embodiments of the device of the presentinvention in which the rear portion of the device has been alteredstructurally. It should be noted that with any of the embodiments 10D,10E, or 10F the forward portion would be similar to that shown in theprior described drawings. Turning to FIGS. 6 and 7, it may be observedthat a tail portion 84 is illustrated in which posts 86, 88, and 90 areextended from one side of tail 84. It should be realized that similarposts may be found on the other side of tail 94 in a mirror imageformat. Elevator 92, FIG. 7. is formed with a slot 94 which fits, intotail 84. Recesses or apertures 96 and 98 fit into the aforementionedposts when elevator 92 lies against tail 84. Specifically, recess 96would engage anyone of post 86, 88, and 90 shown in FIG. 6. A shaft 100may be placed through elevator 92 to allow rotation of elevator 92between anyone of the posts shown in FIG. 6. Elevator 92 is depicted inphantom as being oriented with respect to tail 84 in FIG. 6, in thisregard. Thus, elevator 92, of embodiment 10B, maybe adjusted topre-determined the flight path of embodiment 10D in a water environment.

Turning to FIGS. 8 and 9, embodiment 10E of device of the presentinvention is depicted. Embodiment 10E includes a tail 102, having anaperture 104 through the surface thereof. Aperture 104 lie adjacentincludes bosses 106, 108, and 110 which are each capable of frictionallyholding elevator 112, FIG. 9. Again elevator 112 includes a slot 114which fits around tail 102 after passing partially into aperture 104,Elevator 112 is illustrated in a generally horizontal position withrespect to boss 108 in FIG. 8, although elevator 112 may fit against anyone of the bosses depicted therein.

Turning to FIG. 10, another embodiment 10F of the present invention isshown in which a tail 120 is illustrated and includes a rudder 122. Tail120 possesses a cutout 124 having recesses 126 and 128. Rudder 122 isformed with protuberances 130 and 132 which snap into recesses 126 and128. Also, rudder 122 is capable of rotating left or right about axis134 to determine the direction of flight of embodiment 10F.

Looking now at FIGS. 11, and 12, it may be seen, schematically, thatdevice 10A-F may move in body of water 136. Directional arrows 138, 140,and 142 would determine by the position of any of the elevatorsheretofore described such as elevator 136. Directional arrows 144indicate a sharp movement of any the devices of the present invention ina circular path. FIG. 12, shows body of water 136 from a different angle(plainview) in which arrows 146, 148, and 150 indicate the position ofany of the rudders heretofore described, such as rudder 152. Again, theplacement of rudder 152 to the left can be viewed from above of any ofthe devices 10A-10F would move such device to the left along arrow 146and visa versa with respect to arrow 150. Circular arrows 152 show acircular path of any of the devices of the present invention when any ofthe rudders are severely deflected to the left or right. Of course,combination paths may take place much as a curving flight downwardlyinto the right, upwardly to the left, straight and back (a loop-d-loop)and the like. In any case, the user of any of the devices of underwatertoy 10A-F is capable of pre-determining the path of its movements whilesuch devices are propelled by exemplar propeller 18 and rotating means20.

While in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have beenset forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a completedisclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those of skill in theart that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departingfrom the spirit and principles of the invention.

1. an underwater toy device including a base portion, a wing extending from the base portion, and a tail removed from the wing and extending from the base portion, comprising: a. an elevator, said elevator comprising a flattened piece; b. a first slot and a second slot located in the vicinity of the tail, said first and second slots extending along first and second axes, respectively said first slot lying aim a non-parallel position relative to said second slot, said first and second slots being sized to hold said elevator; c. a propeller; and, d. means for rotating said propeller,
 2. The device of claim 1 in which said means for rotating said propeller comprises a tensioned elastomeric strip held by the base portion and connected to said propeller.
 3. The device of claim 2 in which the base portion includes a recess and said tensioned elastomeric strip lies within said recess.
 4. The device of claim 1 in which said first and second slots are sized to removably hold said elevator.
 5. The device of claim 4 in which the tail includes a rudder rotatably herd thereto.
 6. The device of claim 5 in which the wing further includes a lab removably first thereto.
 7. An underwater toy device including a base portion, a wing extending from the base portion; comprising a. an elevator said elevator including a slot, said a lot of least partially encompassing the tail; and, b. a support located on the tail, said support interacting with said elevator to fix the orientation of said elevator.
 8. The device of claim 7 in which said support comprises at least a first post and a second post and said elevator includes at least one aperture for selectively mating with said first and second posts.
 9. The device of claim 7 in which said support comprises a first channel and a second channel and said elevator includes a flange for selectively mating with said first and second posts.
 10. The device of claim 8 which further comprises a shaft, said elevator rotating about said shaft.
 11. The device of claim 10 in which said means for rotating said propeller comprises a tensioned elastomeric strip held by the base portion and connected to said propeller.
 12. The device of claim 11 in which the base portion includes a recess and said tensioned elastomeric strip lies within said recess.
 13. The device of claim 9 in which said means for rotating said propeller comprises a tensioned elastomeric strip held by the base portion and connected to said propeller.
 14. The device of claim 13 in which the base portion includes a recess and said tensioned elastomeric strip lies within said recess. 